ITF takes part at the mine action exhibition in New York

New York, 4 April 2011 ÔÇô Slovenian International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF), one of the leading organizations in the field of mine action, participated at the official UN event marking the International Day for Mine Awerness and Assistance in Mine Action. The event was organized by UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Slovenia.

Speaking on behalf of ITF, Ambassador Andrej Benedej─Źi─Ź, director general for multilateral affairs at the Slovenian MFA and Chairman of the ITF Managing Board, stressed the importance Slovenia attaches to the fight against the scourge of landmines. He pointed out that since its inception 13 years ago, ITF organized demining of over 100 million square meters of land, facilitated the treatment of more than 1,000 mine survivors and supported the development of national and local rehabilitation capacities in 12 mine-affected countries.

ITF is also sharing know-how and experience with countries in other regions, specifically the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. In this context, Director-General Benedej─Źi─Ź drew particular attention to the project of rehabilitation of child victims of war in Gaza, which was implemented on the initiative of Slovenian President Dr Danilo T├╝rk, and in which ITF is also actively participating.

Other speakers at the event included Mr. Dmitry Titov, Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions, Mr. Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Ambassador Gary Quinlan, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tsuneo Nishida, Permanent Representative of Japan, and Mr. Justin Brady, Officer in charge of UNMAS.

Event marked also grand opening of the exhibition Determined which can be visited in the VisitorÔÇÖs Entrance Lobby of the UN Headquarters in New York in April. One of exhibitors is also ITF with presentations of its accomplishments in Albania and Gaza (Video Presentations can be found below).